Jones expresses shock at positive EPO test

Associated Press

Published
5:30 am CDT, Monday, August 21, 2006

Marion Jones broke her silence on her positive drug test Monday, saying she was shocked and wants the second sample examined quickly.

The five-time Olympic medalist and four-time world champion released a statement through her new attorney, Howard Jacobs, who has represented many athletes in doping cases, including Jones' former boyfriend Tim Montgomery, the father of her child.

"I was shocked when I was informed about the positive "A" sample," she said. "I have requested that the testing of my 'B' sample be expedited and done as soon as possible."

Jones added "only my lawyers have the authority to speak on my behalf in this matter, and I will have no further comment until the results of the 'B' sample are released."

In a telephone interview, Jacobs said he has not discussed with Jones how the positive test might have come about. He also noted the results were supposed to remain private until the "B" sample was tested but were improperly leaked to the media. Jacobs also represents Tour de France champion Floyd Landis, who tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone during the Tour.

Jones' positive test for the banned endurance enhancer EPO came June 23 at the U.S. Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis, where she won the 100 meters, her 14th national title but first since 2002. If the backup "B" sample is positive, the 30-year-old sprinter faces a minimum two-year ban from the sport.

Long dogged by doping suspicions, Jones vehemently has denied using performance-enhancing substances. She withdrew from a meet in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, shortly before the positive test came to light.

"If it's all wrong it's really unfortunate," Pound said of the suspicion surrounding Jones, "but people have a tendency to judge you by the company you keep, and there's clearly been ongoing discussions with USADA which have never been satisfactorily resolved. All that we hear is that the BALCO affair is not over."

Long a critic of how USA Track & Field, the governing body for the sport in the United States, has handled doping cases, Pound said he believes things have improved and gave credit to Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

"He's prepared to step up and say this is not what the United States of America stands for," Pound said, adding he supports the USOC's decision to ban coach Trevor Graham from its training facilities.

Graham is Jones' former coach and the coach of Justin Gatlin, the 100-meter co-world record holder and Olympic gold medalist who tested positive for testosterone and other steroids in April. Several athletes who trained with Graham have tested positive over the years. The coach also has acknowledged he's the one who sent a vial of the designer steroid THG to USADA, telling investigators it was the drug of choice for cheating athletes at the time.